Color measurement

 The "Color Measurement" course is an introductory course to colorimetry. It provides an understanding of how colors are perceived and classified in the various colorimetry systems currently in use. The course begins with a brief historical introduction tracing the most significant stages in the development of colorimetry, followed by a chapter providing some basic concepts of the "neurophysiology" of vision, describing how the eye and retina work. This is followed by a chapter on photometry introducing the quantities essential to colorimetry, in particular spectral luminance, and then a study of colorimetry systems such as RGB, XYZ, and L*a*b*. These first chapters focus on additive color synthesis, which enables colors to be produced on screens (computers, televisions, phones, etc.). The course continues with an introduction to spectrocolorimetry, which provides an understanding of the properties of color mixtures (subtractive synthesis) through its simplest models (Beer-Lambert, Kubelka-Munk, etc.). The course is illustrated by numerous exercises carried out in tutorials, which allow students to familiarize themselves with the various colorimetry systems and their advantages and disadvantages. It is also supported by practical work, which allows students to master color measurement devices (colorimeters, spectrocolorimeters) and the associated software. A significant part of the practical work is dedicated to comparing color observations and measurements.

Master the key concepts of colorimetry and common colorimetry systems, including their advantages and disadvantages. Know how to reference a color and communicate it. Be familiar with color measurement devices and know how to use them with dedicated software.

Historical introduction, natural color classification and Munsell atlas, functioning of the eye and retina, photometry, fundamentals of colorimetry, visual trivariance, RGB system, CIE XYZ and xyY system, physiological L*a*b* system, introduction to spectrocolorimetry, light-matter interaction, Beer-Lambert and Kubelka-Munk models and their use in formulation.